A new poll has revealed that more than half of respondents said connecting to nature by listening to bird song, hearing bees buzz, and seeing and smelling wildflowers was beneficial to their health and wellbeing.

The Savanta poll was carried out ahead of The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild challenge, which takes place across Hertfordshire and Middlesex throughout the month of June and encourages participants to reap the rewards of the natural world by engaging in fun, nature-themed activities. Sign-up for the challenge is now open.

In the last ten years, 30 Days Wild has attracted more than three million participants across the country and helped people to get outside, to enjoy and connect with nature as part of their everyday lives. The latest poll demonstrates that 51% of the 2000 people interviewed highlighted that connecting with nature where they lived was the best way to boost their health and wellbeing, whilst three-quarters of those who took part in last year’s challenge noted improvements in their mental health and overall wellbeing.

The local wildlife charity wants to see more people take notice of the nature on their doorsteps and have some local suggestions to fit with the challenge’s weekly themes:

Help nature where you live

• Come down to the Trust’s Wildlife Garden in Verulamium Park, St Albans and be inspired by what you see, from creating log piles to compost heaps, and bug hotels to bathing spots for birds, you’ll be able to pick up ideas to take home with you.
• Whether you live in a flat in Flamstead or a house in Hoddesdon, do a local litter pick outside your front door – all you need is a pair of gloves and a bag for the rubbish you find.
• Try growing wildlife friendly plants – look out for those with a Pollinator-friendly label.

Get physical with nature in mind

• Get involved with protecting your local river with the Batford Springs Volunteers in Harpenden, who are running a session on 1 June. Find more information at https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/events/batford-springs-volunteeri…
• Go for a walk and watch the clouds move as you do.
• Find adventure in the everyday by going for local bike rides or new woodland walks.

Learn about the amazing wildlife around us

• Get involved in the first Herts Rivers Week, which is taking place at the beginning of June. There’s a host of events taking place where you can find out more about our globally-rare chalk rivers, from walks, to getting on the river, to advice on creating your own mini pond. Visit https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/herts-rivers-week for more information.
• Take a look at the roadside verges near you, and notice the abundance of wildflowers – can you learn to identify them? Visit https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-explorer for guidance
• Read a book or a poem about wildlife – Ted Hughes ‘Swifts’ poem is a classic!

Get creative with nature

• On 4 June, you can learn how to draw a Kingfisher with artist, Martin Gibbons online. Visit https://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/events/learn-sketch-kingfishers-4… for more information.
• Take a soft pencil and do some bark rubbings – you’ll be surprised at the different results when you compare different tree species!
• Start a nature journal to keep track of what you see.

Lea Ellis, Engagement Manager at Herts and Middlesex Trust says:

“June is possibly the best month of the year to enjoy a connection with nature and that’s something that’s accessible to all, whether it’s on your doorstep, beyond a window or in front of a screen. To put it very simply, engaging with nature makes us feel better. From listening to Sparrows chattering in hedges, to watching a beautiful sunset, and from admiring wildflowers on roadside verges as we sit in traffic, to feeling the wind and sun on our faces as we hang the washing out, being more mindful of these experiences removes us from the challenges of everyday life. As a result, our stress levels go down and we release happy hormones. If we add to that the physical benefits for those of us able to go for a walk or a bike ride to enjoy our natural world, it’s easy to see why nature can really boost our health and wellbeing.

“Everyone who signs up gets a useful pack full of great ideas to inspire them, with the weekly themes prompting a variety of actions, many of which benefit both people and wildlife. No matter how much of a commitment to the challenge you make, every small, wild thing that you do is sure to have a positive impact.”

Liz Bonnin, TV Presenter and President of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Connecting to the natural world is the first step to caring for it and playing a part in protecting it. It starts with the simple things – listening to morning birdsong, to hedgerows humming with life, or even just pausing to watch the clouds drift across the sky. This June, join us for #30DaysWild with The Wildlife Trusts, and fall back in love with nature.

“I’ll be taking a moment to immerse myself in nature – I'm going to walk barefoot in the grass, listen to the buzz of insects in my garden, and look up at bright green tree canopies against azure, blue skies. These small acts of ‘wildness’ are feel-good moments that not only remind us how connected we are to nature, they also inspire us to protect it. 

“I believe in the magic of nature. It heals, it inspires and reconnects us to what truly matters in life. If you’ve never taken part in 30 Days Wild before, this is your year. Fall back in love with the planet – one wild day at a time.” 

Those signing-up to take part will be asked whether they are taking on the challenge with or without children and will receive an appropriate pack, making the challenge suited to individuals, families, schools and youth groups. This includes an inspirational guide packed with ideas, as well as a free packet of herb seeds to start their nature journey. Made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, 30 Days Wild encourages everyone to connect with nature.

To sign up to receive your free 30 Days Wild pack, please visit wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild.